UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 28, 2011

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 494-0400


Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

⃞ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

On March 28, 2011 ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. issued a press release announcing an exclusive collaboration agreement in which MolecularMD will develop and commercialize a companion diagnostic test to identify the T315I mutation of the BCR-ABL gene in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

ARIAD is advancing its investigational, pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor, ponatinib, in the pivotal PACE trial of patients with resistant or intolerant CML and Ph+ ALL, or those with the T315I mutation.  MolecularMD has performed BCR-ABL mutation testing with its standardized and validated sequencing test in patients enrolled in ARIAD’s earlier Phase 1 trial of ponatinib and now is conducting similar testing prior to patient treatment in the PACE trial.

A copy of the press release is being filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and the information contained therein is incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.

(d)   The following exhibit is filed with this report:

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Exhibit Index

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